With a much greater emphasis this season for Liverpool being placed on their Premier League form and placing than last year, where Kenny Dalglish aimed for cup glory at the ultimate expense of league wins, Brendan Rodgers looks has named something of a surprise team tonight for the Reds' Europa League clash at Anfield against Udinese.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has confirmed that Liverpool have been given permission to discuss their
managerial vacancy with Roberto Martinez.
The Reds took the decision to part with Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday.
He helped the club to Carling Cup glory in 2011/12, but paid the price for a disappointing
eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

Sylvain Distin felt that he had cost Everton a place in the FA Cup final after his mistake
kick-started Liverpool's comeback at Wembley on Saturday.
The Toffees were leading their Merseyside rivals 1-0 when Distin attempted to pass the ball back to
goalkeeper Tim Howard but only succeeded in playing in Luis Suarez.

Sylvain Distin felt that he had cost Everton a place in the FA Cup final after his mistake
kick-started Liverpool's comeback at Wembley on Saturday.
The Toffees were leading their Merseyside rivals 1-0 when Distin attempted to pass the ball back to
goalkeeper Tim Howard but only succeeded in playing in Luis Suarez.

Kenny Dalglish believes that Liverpool have made progress at all levels over the last year.
The Kop icon led the club to Carling Cup glory in February to help them clinch their first trophy
since 2006.
That triumph was expected to signal the start of an assault on the league for a top-four finish,
but over recent weeks the Reds have struggled and are now seventh in the table.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has slammed Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger for publicly
accusing Reds striker Luis Suarez of diving, suggesting that the Frenchman should be charged by the
FA.

Dalglish has seen an eventful month at Merseyside go from celebrating Carling Cup glory to
losing back-to-back Premier League fixtures that have put his side on the verge of yet another
disappointing finish in the domestic standings.

Rafael Benitez's agent has reiterated his desire to return to work in England but stressed there
had been no contact from Chelsea.

There have been several reports today that Chelsea had approached Benitez with a view to him
replacing Andre Villas-Boas at Stamford Bridge. But Manuel Garcia Quilon told journalists that
Chelsea had not been in touch.

Wembley FC play in the English Combined Counties League which is eight divisions below the
top-flight have not only gone Stateside thanks to the help of sponsors Budweiser but they have also
signed several former Premier League stars in a bid for FA Cup glory or at least qualify for the
first round proper at least.

Reading FC will start their second spell in the Premier League next season having emerged from
the pack in the Championship to lift the title by a single, solitary point. This, however, is a
club with a very lengthy history. Founded in 1871, Reading joined the Football League in 1920, but
the amount of time that they spent in the lower divisions means that finding archive footage of
them can be a little tricky.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has attempted to cool the emotional exchange between
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and City's Football Development Executive Patrick Vieira,
insisting that his team's confidence in the title race is not meant as a token of disrespect to the
Red Devils.

Why Chelsea Need To End Reign Of Player Power - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

When Andre Villas-Boas took over as Chelsea Manager in June 2011, he probably didn't envisage
the club's dressing room being his biggest problem during his first season in English football. A
dressing room filled with international footballers and seasoned professionals would surely have
been an attraction for any potential Chelsea manager following the ruthless sacking of Carlo
Ancelotti.

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti is relishing the prospect of linking up with Argentine
compatriot Carlos Tevez in January as speculation rises over the future of the unsettled Manchester
City forward.

Tevez enjoyed a remarkable run at Eastlands, leading City to FA Cup glory in a season where many
considered him to be the club's best player.

Very downbeat show this time. Bates' comments this week have Twiggster perplexed. Difficult to
produce a show when the chairman is again knocking the fans.
Also when the chairman's comments and those of the manager regarding new signings, are in conflict.
So another rant from Twiggster this week!

Kenny Dalglish could be dethroned when Liverpool take on arch rivals Everton in their FA Cup
semi-final on 14 April.
It was only a few months ago that his followers were chanting "Long live the King", but it is
league championships and Champions League football the Kop crave, not the Carling Cup and Europa
League qualification.

LA Galaxy will lock horns with Houston Dynamo as the underdog tags remains very much on the Texans
for this tie. With the Californians at home for this highly-anticipated clash, the onus is on them
to capture cup glory to ...

The Rest

Twiggster does it again! Another full show this week, with every possible tidbit regarding our
club! Leeds Academy kids sign pro! League Cup first round fixture news! Warnock is back from his
holidays and looking forward to the coming season! OK. that is scraping the barrel (LOL!) but
despite the lack of listener emails this week, a wonderful recorded interview with the co writer of
our anthem plus Twiggsters memories of past LUFC League Cup Glory have made this week's Glory Glory
Leeds a fan interest packed show.

Last year, first MLS edition of the Cascadia Cup worked out quite nicely for the Seattle
Sounders. Two early home draws - thanks consecutively to a late Futty Danso goal for the Portland
Timbers in the pissing rain and an incredible stoppage-time goal of the year candidate for the
Vancouver Whitecaps from Eric Hassli - created early drama.

Bolton are in a relegation scrap in the league and there is a real division in their fans between
playing their strongest team against us and going for cup glory, or resting their players for the
fight for survival."Some say we should play the best XI for each game, that momentum overcomes tiredness.

Most if not all of the tributes to John "Clarkie" Souza, who passed away at age 91 on Sunday,
makeÂ mention that the Fall River, Mass.Â native was on the United States starting XI that shocked
England in the 1950 World Cup. AndÂ to many, that is what he is most famous for.

But there was more so much more to the life and career of the Portuguese-American playmaker who,
without exagerration, was a pioneer of the sport in this country.

So it's 8pm. And I'm still going strongish. Big kicks this hour to all my mates at the Hibs Club
for the support - financial and alcoholic - they've given this venture. More than just a club and
going strong since 1955.